For more information, please contact:

Calvin Mercer, PhD
Co-Director, Religious Studies
Program
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858 USA
252.328.4310 (office and voice mail)
252-328-6301 (fax)
mercerc@ecu.edu

[Religious Studies Program]
[The Monastic Project]
[Speaking Engagements]
[Study Abroad]

Dr. Calvin Mercer teaches religious studies at East Carolina University, where he recently received a university "Scholar- Teacher" award. Most of his research (2 books, 25 articles) is in religion and culture, psychology of religion, and biblical studies, with an emphasis on the role of the Bible in modern culture.

He is trained in clinical psychology and practiced professionally part-time for over a decade. He was known as the "go-to" therapist for clients where religion was a factor in their mental distress and/or behavioral dysfunction. In both his teaching and clinical practice, he has worked extensively with fundamentalist Christians. In a forthcoming book, he provides a novel - and likely controversial - psychological analysis of fundamentalism.

Dr. Mercer is one of the few scholars considering the religious implications of radical life extension, a term that refers to science and technology that could provide extreme (perhaps indefinite) longevity of healthy human life. He is co-editing a book on the subject and has organized panels of experts for the American Academy of Religion national meetings. Whether such science should proceed or not is a legitimate question, and Dr. Mercer wants to promote reflection on the question that stems from progressive religion that has no presumptive bias against science.

Dr. Mercer is the originator of The Monastic Project, a comprehensive program used by professors around the country that speaks to a deep yearning many people have for substantive religious experience that goes deeper, offers more, and requires more than either fundamentalism or the easy, quick, sensual froth offered up by much contemporary religion. The Monastic Project, with guidelines drawn from various monastic traditions, yields results transformative beyond religious experience, such as improved mental and physical health, clarification of life goals and purpose, improved relationships, increased awareness, and better sleep.

For several years Dr. Mercer directed the largest study abroad program at his university, and he serves as a consultant on producing successful short-term study abroad programs.

Dr. Mercer gives public lectures on fundamentalism, the religious implications of radical life extension science, The Monastic Project, and other topics.